At the Sunday event, protesters hunted Easter eggs and hung “peace wings” on a fence.

Last month, a bicyclist was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and a 71-year-old man was detained, but not charged, during his weekly “peace vigil” at the plant.

Of course, this all occurred after three older protesters, including an 82-year-old nun, broke into the plant property on July 28, 2012.

In a release last week, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced plans to extend the boundary fence at Y-12 along Scarboro Road.

“The fence is being erected primarily to restrict public access to U.S. Government property in front of the entrance sign and along the side of New Hope Center,” the NNSA stated.

“Events of the past several months have shown that there is a greater threat of trespassing on the site, and the costs for responding to this threat are increasing.

“Y-12 is taking conservatives and appropriate measures to make such illegal actions more difficult.”

The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance has held vigils each Sunday for more than 13 years on the site.

“By definition that makes this space a public forum which enjoys particular protections under the Constitution,” said Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of the alliance.

Larry Osborne, who teaches at Carson-Newman University, said the fence will push protesters back to the road.

“I’m concerned that our problems in Iran and North Korea are in part because this place (Y-12) creates an incentive for instability,” Osborne said.

Although New Hope Center will also be behind the fence, public access will continue during normal working hours, and public use will still be permitted by groups following Y-12’s policies and guidelines, the NNSA stated.

“The NNSA recognizes these changes will create some inconveniences for the public,” the release said. “However, NNSA and B&W Y-12 are responsible for maintaining the most secure environment possible to ensure the continued protection of Y-12.

“The additional fencing being installed is in addition to other measures completed in recent months to improve security at Y-12.”

The fence that will be erected by this Thursday will be a temporary fence, and a permanent fence is planned for a later date.

Y-12 supports the U.S. nuclear security enterprise through uranium storage, processing and manufacturing operations. Y-12 is operated by B&W Y-12 LLC for NNSA.

Darrell Richardson can be contacted at editor@oakridger.com or by calling (865) 220-5510.